Chicago Neighborhood Digital.. Andrius are you in Chicago> October 18, 2010
Of possible interest to anyone in Chicago
Pam
From: Pierre Clark <pierreaclark@gmail.com>
Date: 18 October 2010 20:49
Subject: Re: [DIN] Rebuild and Reboot - Movement and Network
To: inclusion@forums.e-democracy.org
The October 29, 2010 1st Chicago Neighborhood Digital Excellence
Conference and Technology Fair is, I think, developing as a
significant event in the neighborhood technology/digital media space.
Conferences as gatherings rarely make news, right, because they are
usually attended by like-minded people who already agree on most of
the subject matter covered in the conference and come to learn from
and share with their peers in the field.
But as our colleague Frank Odasz points out in his expansive and
eloquent piece, the stars have aligned, and everyone - government,
foundations, business - is now focused on the digital space for the
reasons we as the tech activists always knew - the digital space is
key to our community development paradigm.
Next week's events, on October 29, 2010 at the 1st Chicago
Neighborhood Digital Excellence Conference and Technology Fair, and
the following day on October 30, 2010, at the Rebuild-Reboot Strategy
Session around re-establishing the national neighborhood
technology/networking movement, I think, will be an important
demonstration of the fact that activism in the digital inclusion space
is alive and well, because there is still a need for it, and that more
importantly, we have and know how to use the tools: the web,
listservs, sms, wikis, blogs, cloud computing, open source software,
and more - to connect up and build the kinds of activities and
projects that will really empower residents and organizations and
communities.
Moreover, we have adopted a benchmark standard - digital excellence -
that is resonating in Chicago, the state of Illinois, around the
nation and internationally.
It's on us and up to us. Join us as the movement continues.
On 10/1/10, Michael Maranda <mm@michaelmaranda.net> wrote:
> On October 30, following upon the Digital Excellence Conference convened by
> the Chicago Digital Access Alliance, we are holding a working session to
> establish an organization and network in service to the field encompassing
> Community Technology, Community Media and Community Networking, addressing
> and inviting all who have gathered to remediate Digital and Social Divides
> under banners of Literacy, Access, Inclusion, Excellence and Justice.
>
> We believe that a new way of working together is emerging and that our
> message to our communities is more pertinent than ever, and that we are
> stronger when we establish resources in common and share solutions freely
> across the network.
>
> This is not a relaunch. It is something more profound. We honor the
> heritage of our field by finding a way forward, one suited to our present
> situation, one that builds upon what we have learned.
>
> We have much experience in this community, and we are clearly ready to
> refactor, rebuild and reboot the movement and the network. We will
> determine the functions, services and capacities we need and desire for the
> field, and we will coordinate efforts to bring them online in a manner that
> serves the field as a whole, building upon capacities already under
> development when possible and operating from a perspective of shared, open
> stewardship.
>
> We're looking to grow our field, and to demonstrate it's relevance to every
> facet of community and civic life. Many are engaged in the work and have
> not found us, their peer-community. We're looking to establish a way for
> them to find us as we found each other, and for all to find a way to take up
> a meaningful share of the work.
>
> We would love for all who wish to come to be there. This is an open call to
> everyone serving our field. You are invited to join the working meeting on
> October 30, or to step up in any way that may support this effort. (All are
> likewise invited to attend the Digital Excellence Conference, October 29:
> http://dexcon2010.eventbrite.com/)
>
> Many have already expressed support for this endeavor, but not all are able
> to attend. For some, the obstacle is scheduling, for others there are
> fiscal constraints. Perhaps we can find creative ways to address the
> latter.
>
> There will be several channels for involvement leading up to and following
> the meeting. First among them is a discussion list:
> http://groups.google.com/group/rebuild-reboot All who wish to attend or
> otherwise support the work should subscribe and participate. Please signify
> on that list whether you plan to join us for the meeting or if you can
> support this effort in some other way.
>
> Please also spread the word on this meeting and the conference. Tell us who
> you think should be there. Better yet, tell them.
>
> Michael Maranda
> Rebuild-Reboot Committee
> Michael Maranda
> Hyde Park, Chicago
> About Michael Maranda: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/michaelmaranda